Солон, Огайо: История и современность города

Solon ('/s//oʊ//l//ən/ SOHlun) is a city in southeastern Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 24,262 at the 2020 census. A suburb of Cleveland, it is part of the Cleveland metropolitan area.

In 1820, the first settlers arrived from Connecticut to live in part of the Connecticut Western Reserve. The township was named after Lorenzo Solon Bull, who was the son of Isaac Bull, one of the first settlers. Purportedly, the selection of young Lorenzo's middle name was due to its derivation from the "father of democracy", Solon, the famous Athenian lawmaker of Ancient Greece. The early settlers faced challenges common to pioneers, but in Solon, drainage and wetlands issues complicated settlement and agriculture. Overcoming these obstacles, Solon Township became an arable farming area, producing corn and wheat crops and supporting dairy farms (including five cheese factories). By 1850, the population of Solon Township reached 1,034. Because of nearby Cleveland's position as a national hub of the railroad industry, rail also contributed greatly to Solon's growth. In 1857, the Cleveland Youngstown section of the Cleveland and Mahoning Railroad established a line running through Solon. Laid out in a traditional New England plan, Solon, like many of the neighboring townships, established a public square in its town center. In conjunction with townships to the north, a north–south corridor was established through the town centers of Solon, Orange, and Mayfield townships (from south to north, respectively) and, accordingly, was named SOM Center Road (now Ohio 91). Solon Township included the current municipalities of the City of Solon and the villages of Bentleyville and Glenwillow. In 1927, Solon was incorporated as a village and later became a city in 1961, operated under the mayor council form of government. Solon was one of the first cities to use a comprehensive zoning plan and has been able to achieve a strong industrial base, while insulating its bedroom communities from industrial activities. Further, the city has primarily concentrated its commercial and retail districts in the town center, making them convenient to all residents. In addition to its planned use for corporate and residential areas, Solon has of city parks and recreational area, of Cleveland Metroparks (the South Chagrin Reservation) and three golf courses within its borders. In 1991, the extension of a divided highway, US 422, was completed as an east–west corridor just north of its town center. US 422 enables easy access to many points throughout Northeast Ohio, providing a corridor extending from Cleveland through Solon and beyond Warren into Pennsylvania.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.49 square miles (53 km2), of which 20.36 square miles (53 km2) is land and 0.13 square miles (0 km2) is water.

Solon lies in a humid continental climate zone (Köppen Dfa) and has four distinct seasons, from hot summers to cold and snowy winters. The highest recorded temperature in the city was in 1918, and the lowest was in 1994. Solon experiences relatively high precipitation (an average of annually) due to lake effect and its presence on the western end of the North American snowbelt. As of 2010, the median income for a household in the city was $96,965, and the median income for a family was $112,156. The per capita income for the city was $47,505. About 2.0% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line. Of the city's population over age 25, 57.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Solon has a large immigrant population. The success of Solon's public schools is cited as one reason for the diversity of its population. Solon’s community is composed largely of religious families, with over a dozen churches and synagogues found within the city limits.

The Solon Center for the Arts offers classes in art, music, dance, and theater. The center holds a program for seniors entitled "Act II: Aging Creatively through the Arts," for those over 55 interested in theater or music. The city is also home to the Solon Philharmonic Orchestra, and hosts an annual Young Artists Concerto Competition.

Established in 1968 in the old Disciple Church, the Solon Historical Society maintains a museum with artifacts from the 1800s through the 1900s, many of which serve as memorials to the city founders. Many pieces in the museum include antique household and kitchen items, antique furniture, Solon Springs soda bottles, antique children's toys, school desks from the old school house, and many others. The museum is opened the second Sunday of every month.

St. Rita School is a private Catholic religious institution, associated with the St. Rita Roman Catholic Parish Church in Solon. The school offers preschool, elementary, upper elementary, and middle school programs. St. Rita School has also received National Blue Ribbon School designation from the United States government. Solon is home to the Montessori school of Solon.

As of 2014, the Solon Police Department consisted of 46 officers, 14 dispatchers, 16 correction officers, eight office staff, one animal warden, 19 auxiliary police, and six school guards.